So far, 72,000 people from Volusia County have requested vote-by-mail ballots for this month’s primary election. That’s already more ballots than for the general election in 2012.

So it seems fitting that the most historic building in Volusia County is home to the Supervisor of Elections Office. The county could make presidential election history this year, as the biggest toss-up among all counties is between Daytona Beach and Tampa.

Advertisement

Four years ago, when Barack Obama won the state with help from Orange and Osceola counties, he narrowly lost in Volusia County to the GOP's Mitt Romney, by less than 1 percent.

"I think it makes sense for them at the very beginning of this campaign season to end up in Florida, and in particular, Central Florida," the League of Women Voters' Carla Christianson said. She’s not surprised to hear that Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Kaine is campaigning in Daytona Beach Tuesday, and Republican Donald Trump will be there Wednesday.

“One percent difference in 2012, could it only be half a percent this time? I don't know. Or a few hundred, or a few dozen? Yes. This I-4 corridor is make-or-break Florida as they say," Lewis said.

Statewide, Republicans have done a better job registering voters since the last election, up to 36 percent of the state's voters from 35 percent in 2012. Democrats have dropped in registration, from 40 percent four years ago, to 38 percent now.

The Kaine visit will take place at the School of Hospitality Management at Daytona State College Tuesday afternoon.

Both parties are clearly keeping history in mind. In 2012, Romney was the only presidential contender to visit Volusia County, and he won by that very slim margin of less than 1 percent.